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On Watch in Washington / The Informer

March 23, 2016 

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week in a group of cases challenging the Obamacare requirement that nonprofit employers offer their employees health care coverage that includes Plan B, ella, and other potentially life-ending drugs and devices, contraception, and sterilization. The challengers in the consolidated cases, captioned Zubik v. Burwell, include the Little Sisters of the Poor; Priests for Life; East Texas Baptist University; Southern Nazarene University; Geneva College; the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.; and other religious charities.

Intercessors will find clearly defined prayer points in this article. It summarizes several current U.S. Supreme Court issues under one title. All are important; each demonstrates calculated prejudice and discrimination against closely held convictions of conscience in religious matters. Sadly, major pressure is coming from the U.S. government, though our Constitution upholds freedom. Pray!

"Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." (1 Thess 5:21-22)   
  
China and Russia are preparing to attack and disrupt critical U.S. military and intelligence satellites in a future conflict with crippling space missile, maneuvering satellite, and laser attacks, senior Pentagon and intelligence officials told Congress on Tuesday. Air Force Gen. John Hyten, commander of the Air Force Space Command, said the threat to U.S. space systems has reached a new tipping point, and after years of post-Cold War stagnation foreign states are focused on curbing U.S. space systems.
"Adversaries are developing kinetic, directed-energy, and cyber tools to deny, degrade, and destroy our space capabilities," Hyten said in a prepared statement for a hearing of the House Armed Service strategic forces subcommittee.

This is a sobering article, a clear call to intercession. Military and intelligence leaders projected in a recent congressional hearing a scenario that would lead to global warfare. If U.S. satellite function is compromised, our nation will be vulnerable. Only national repentance and revival will invoke God's favor. Pray as the Holy Spirit leads. Pray that the Church will lead the way back to God.

"What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people." (Ps 116:12-14)
  
 
Britain's first genetically modified human embryos could be created within months, after scientists were granted permission by the fertility regulator to carry out the procedure.
The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) regulator approved a licence application by Kathy Niakan, a stem cell scientist at the Francis Crick Institute in London, to perform so-called genome editing - also called gene editing - on human embryos.
The decision permits Niakan to study the embryos for 14 days for research purposes only. It does not permit them to be implanted into women. Niakan's research is aimed at finding the genes at play in the early days of human fertilization.

Science that fails to acknowledge God as Creator ultimately becomes atheistic. This article reminds us of those at Babel who, apart from God, attempted to reach "the heavens" (Gen. 11). God scattered them by confusing their language. Genetic manipulation violates God's design and will do damage. Pray for spiritual revelation of Jesus Christ, in whom are hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge.   

"... Laodicea...that their hearts may be encouraged...and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Col 2:1-3)

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Up and down the Texas Gulf Coast, the state's game wardens are on the water, looking for people fishing or hunting illegally. But as we've reported, they sometimes come across things like illegal chemical dumpsites and more says Texas Parks and Wildlife's Tom Harvey.  "Game wardens encounter all kinds of things on their patrols, including a lot of illegal fishing, and this is a new threat we're gearing up to be able to address," Harvey told News 88.7. That new threat is terrorism. One fear is that terrorists could try to smuggle radioactive material into the country by boat. The Port of Houston has for years had radiation detectors to scan cargo.

Criminals are using state-of-the-art electronic gadgets to ply their illegal activities. Pray for the safety and success of the Texas Gulf Coast game wardens as they use similar technology to detect entry of illegal persons, drugs, and other materials. Their job is more difficult when our government no longer believes in controlling borders. Pray for revival, a returning to God for His mercy and blessing.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Ps 127:1)



Israelis can now use their smartphones to make live video distress calls to emergency responders, a first-of-its-kind service that, if successful, could set a new standard for countries around the world. Video chats, texting and location detection may be humdrum features for today's smartphone user, but they remain a puzzle to most emergency calling systems, which are outdated and only take voice calls.This gap in technology, which developed countries are racing to close, leads to slower response times, miscommunications and many wasted resources, often to the detriment of people calling for help.

Many IFA-related intercessors pray regularly for Israel and things connected with that nation's security, so this report is good news. Give thanks for Israeli advancements in this field of added protection, perhaps with a product that can be marketed to friendly nations for an economic boost. Israel needs Christians' prayers and encouragement of U.S. commitment. Keep praying!

"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved... I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not!...God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew." (Rom. 10:1; 11:1-2)
 
 
 

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